American college football season
The 2023 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season . The Commodores were led by Clark Lea in his third year as their head coach. Following their blowout loss to Ole Miss, the Commodores became ineligible for a bowl selection for the 5th consecutive season. This was the last year of the Eastern and Western divisions of the SEC, as Texas and Oklahoma joined the SEC in 2024.
Schedule [ edit ] Vanderbilt and the SEC announced the 2023 football schedule on September 20, 2022.[1] [2] The 2023 Commodores' schedule consists of 6 home games and 6 away games for the regular season. Vanderbilt will host four SEC conference opponents Auburn , Georgia (rivalry ), Kentucky (rivalry ) and Missouri at home and will travel to four SEC opponents, Florida , Mississippi (rivalry ), South Carolina and Tennessee (rivalry ) to close out the SEC regular season on the road. Vanderbilt is not scheduled to play SEC West opponents Alabama , Arkansas , LSU , Mississippi State and Texas A&M in the 2023 regular season. The Commodores' have two bye weeks this season.
Vanderbilt's out of conference opponents represent the ACC , Mountain West and SWAC . The Commodores will host two of the four non–conference games which are against Alabama A&M from the SWAC and Hawaii from the Mountain West. The Commodores will travel to two non–conference games which are against UNLV also from the Mountain West and will travel to Wake Forest from the ACC.
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance August 26 6:30 p.m. Hawaii * SECN W 35–2821,407 September 2 6:00 p.m. Alabama A&M * FirstBank Stadium Nashville, TN SECN+/ESPN+ W 47–1322,035 September 9 10:00 a.m. at Wake Forest * ACCN L 20–3628,363 September 16 6:00 p.m. at UNLV * CBSSN L 37–4022,582 September 23 11:00 a.m. Kentucky FirstBank Stadium Nashville, TN (rivalry ) SECN L 28–4526,279 September 30 3:00 p.m. No. 23 Missouri FirstBank Stadium Nashville, TN SECN L 21–3826,332 October 7 3:00 p.m. at Florida SECN L 14–3889,432 October 14 11:00 a.m. No. 1 Georgia FirstBank Stadium Nashville, TN (rivalry ) CBS L 20–3728,500 October 28 6:30 p.m. at No. 12 Ole Miss SECN L 7–3362,914 November 4 3:00 p.m. Auburn FirstBank Stadium Nashville, TN SECN L 15–3128,500 November 11 11:00 a.m. at South Carolina SECN L 6–4775,682 November 25 2:30 p.m. at No. 21 Tennessee SECN L 24–48101,915
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Game summaries [ edit ] vs Hawaii [ edit ] Uniform Combination Helmet Jersey Pants
Game One (Week Zero) – Vanderbilt Commodores vs Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Hawaii 14 7 7 7 35 Vanderbilt 7 7 0 14 28
at FirstBank Stadium – Nashville, TN
vs Alabama A&M (FCS) [ edit ] Uniform Combination Helmet Jersey Pants
at Wake Forest [ edit ] Uniform Combination Helmet Jersey Pants
Game Three – Vanderbilt Commodores (2–0) at Wake Forest Demon Deacons (1–0) – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Commodores 0 14 0 6 20 Demon Deacons 3 21 3 9 36
at Truist Field , Winston-Salem, NC
Date : September 9, 2023Game time : TBATV : TBA
Game information First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter Win Probability Line Over/Under
Statistics VAN WAKE First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics Vanderbilt Passing Rushing Receiving Wake Forest Passing Rushing Receiving
at UNLV [ edit ] Uniform Combination Helmet Jersey Pants
vs Kentucky [ edit ] vs No. 23 Missouri [ edit ] Game Six – No. 23 Missouri Tigers (4–0) at Vanderbilt Commodores (2–3) – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total No. 23 Missouri 3 14 7 14 38 Vanderbilt 7 0 0 14 21
at FirstBank Stadium • Nashville, Tennessee
Date : Saturday, September 30, 2023Game time : 3:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : –Game attendance : 26,332Referee : Jason AutreyTV announcers (SECN ) : Dave Neal (play-by-play), Deuce McAllister (analyst), Andraya Carter (sideline)
Game information First quarter (6:57) MIZZ – Harrison Mevis 23-yard field goal (Drive: 14 plays, 69 yards, 5:43; Missouri 3–0 ) (3:46) VAN – Ken Seals 6-yard run (Jacob Borcila kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 76 yards, 3:11; Vanderbilt 7–3 ) Second quarter (12:27) MIZZ – Cody Schrader 1-yard run (Harrison Mevis kick) (Drive: 12 plays, 85 yards, 6:19; Missouri 10–7 ) (0:55) MIZZ – Theo Wease Jr. 12-yard pass from Brady Cook (Harrison Mevis kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 59 yards, 2:27; Missouri 17–7 ) Third quarter (10:37) MIZZ – Luther Burden III 18-yard pass from Brady Cook (Harrison Mevis kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 4:23; Missouri 24–7 ) Fourth quarter (12:59) VAN – Will Sheppard 31-yard pass from Ken Seals (Jacob Borcila kick) (Drive: 2 plays, 60 yards, 0:33; Missouri 24–14 ) (11:10) MIZZ – Marquis Johnson 44-yard pass from Brady Cook (Harrison Mevis kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 65 yards, 1:49; Missouri 31–14 ) (9:36) VAN – Junior Sherrill 45-yard pass from Ken Seals (Jacob Borcila kick) (Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards, 1:34; Missouri 31–21 ) (4:23) MIZZ – Luther Burden III 17-yard pass from Brady Cook (Harrison Mevis kick) (Drive: 3 plays, 19 yards, 1:19; Missouri 38–21 )
Statistics MIZZ VAN First downs 28 15 Total yards 75–532 72–300 Rushing yards 34–137 20–41 Passing yards 395 259 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 33–41–0 20–31–1 Time of possession 35:58 24:02
Team Category Player Statistics Missouri Passing Brady Cook 33/41, 395 yards, 4 TD Rushing Nathaniel Peat 12 carries, 71 yards Receiving Luther Burden III 11 receptions, 140 yards, 2 TD Vanderbilt Passing Ken Seals 20/31, 259 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Jayden McGowan 3 carries, 24 yards Receiving Will Sheppard 5 receptions, 98 yards, TD
at Florida [ edit ] Game Seven: Vanderbilt Commodores (2–4) at Florida Gators (3–2) – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Vanderbilt 7 0 7 0 14 Florida 7 14 7 10 38
at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium , Gainesville, Florida
Date : Saturday, October 7, 2023Game time : 4:00 p.m. ESTGame weather : Temperature: 84 °F (29 °C) • E at 4 miles per hour (6.4 km/h) • Weather: cloudyGame attendance : 88,163Referee : Lee HedrickTV announcers (SECN ) : Dave Neal (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (analyst), and Tori Petry (sideline reporter)
Game information First quarter (9:05) FLA – Ricky Pearsall 14-yard run (Trey Smack kick) (Drive: 9 plays, 93 yards, 3:27; Florida 7–0 ) (6:15) VAN – Will Sheppard 85-yard pass from Ken Seals (Jacob Borcila kick) (Drive: 2 plays, 89 yards, 0:39; Tied 7–7 ) Second quarter (10:51) FLA – Arlis Boardingham 2-yard pass from Graham Mertz (Trey Smack kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 61 yards, 3:53; Florida 14–7 ) (0:41) FLA – Montrell Johnson Jr. 7-yard run (Trey Smack kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 71 yards, 2:01; Florida 21–7 ) Third quarter (3:16) FLA – Eugene Wilson III 9-yard pass from Graham Mertz (Trey Smack kick) (Drive: 14 plays, 91 yards, 6:25; Florida 28–7 ) (0:44) VAN – Richie Hoskins 21-yard pass from Ken Seals (Jacob Borcila kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 2:32; Florida 28–14 ) Fourth quarter (12:12) FLA – Trey Smack 40-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 54 yards, 3:24; Florida 31–14 ) (7:19) FLA – Arlis Boardingham 15-yard pass from Graham Mertz (Trey Smack kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 36 yards, 2:07; Florida 38–14 )
Statistics VAN FLA First downs 13 25 Total yards 53–344 71–495 Rushing yards 19–64 30–215 Passing yards 280 280 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19–34–0 34–41–1 Time of possession 23:02 36:58
Team Category Player Statistics Vanderbilt Passing Ken Seals 19/34, 280 yards, 2 TD Rushing Sedrick Alexander 8 carries, 29 yards Receiving Will Sheppard 3 receptions, 107 yards, TD Florida Passing Graham Mertz 30/36, 254 yards, 3 TD Rushing Montrell Johnson Jr. 18 carries, 135 yards, TD Receiving Arlis Boardingham 7 receptions, 99 yards, 2 TD
Game Eight – No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs (6–0) at Vanderbilt Commodores (2–5) – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total No. 1 Georgia 7 17 3 10 37 Vanderbilt 7 0 0 13 20
at FirstBank Stadium • Nashville, Tennessee
Game information First quarter (12:07) VAN – London Humphreys 49-yard pass from Ken Seals (Jacob Borcila kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:53; Vanderbilt 7–0 ) (5:42) UGA – Carson Beck 1-yard run (Peyton Woodring kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 71 yards, 2:56; Tied 7–7 ) Second quarter (13:42) UGA – Kendall Milton 3-yard run (Peyton Woodring kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 77 yards, 3:44; Georgia 14–7 ) (3:40) UGA – Peyton Woodring 31-yard field goal (Drive: 16 plays, 55 yards, 7:47; Georgia 17–7 ) (0:12) UGA – Dominic Lovett 4-yard pass from Carson Beck (Peyton Woodring kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 55 yards, 0:25; Georgia 24–7 ) Third quarter (6:22) UGA – Peyton Woodring 44-yard field goal (Drive: 19 plays, 60 yards, 8:30; Georgia 27–7 ) Fourth quarter (14:57) VAN – Richie Hoskins 3-yard pass from Ken Seals (Jacob Borcila kick) (Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 6:25; Georgia 27–14 ) (9:05) UGA – Peyton Woodring 30-yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 66 yards, 5:45; Georgia 30–14 ) (6:14) VAN – Sedrick Alexander 1-yard run (pass failed) (Drive: 1 play, 1 yard, 0:03; Georgia 30–20 ) (3:13) UGA – Daijun Edwards 1-yard run (Peyton Woodring kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 3:01; Georgia 37–20 )
Statistics UGA VAN First downs 26 9 Total yards 78–552 47–219 Rushing yards 39–291 15–18 Passing yards 261 201 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 29–39–1 19–29–1 Time of possession 37:19 22:41
Team Category Player Statistics Georgia Passing Carson Beck 29/39, 261 yards, TD, INT Rushing Daijun Edwards 20 carries, 146 yards, TD Receiving Dominic Lovett 9 receptions, 72 yards, TD Vanderbilt Passing Ken Seals 19/29, 201 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Sedrick Alexander 6 carries, 16 yards, TD Receiving Jayden McGowan 5 receptions, 58 yards
at No. 12 Ole Miss (rivalry ) [ edit ] Game Nine – Vanderbilt Commodores (2–6) at No. 12 Ole Miss Rebels – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Vanderbilt 0 0 7 0 7 No. 12 Ole Miss 13 13 0 7 33
at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium • Oxford, Mississippi
Date : Saturday, October 28, 2023Game time : 6:30 p.m. CSTGame weather : Cloudy • Temperature : 76 °F (24 °C)Game attendance : 62,914Referee : Ken WilliamsonTV announcers (SECN ) : Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst), Cole Cubelic (sideline)
Game information First Quarter (13:21) Ole Miss – Quinshon Judkins 18 Yd Run (Caden Davis Kick) Ole Miss 7–0 ; 6 plays, 75 yards, 1:39 (10:34) Ole Miss – Caden Davis 27 Yd Field Goal Ole Miss 10–0 ; 4 plays, 2 yards, 1:16 (0:33) Ole Miss – Caden Davis 48 Yd Field Goal Ole Miss 13–0 ; 10 plays, 38 yards, 3:58 Second Quarter (11:11) Ole Miss – Jaxson Dart 1 Yd Run (Caden Davis Kick) Ole Miss 20–0 ; 6 plays, 72 yards, 2:52 (7:40) Ole Miss – Dayton Wade 6 Yd pass from Jaxson Dart (Two-Point Pass Conversion Failed) Ole Miss 26–0 ; 5 plays, 32 yards, 1:53 Third Quarter (1:57) Vanderbilt – Walter Taylor 2 Yd Run (Jacob Borcila Kick) Ole Miss 26–7 ; 10 plays, 65 yards, 5:30 Fourth Quarter (9:33) Ole Miss – Quinshon Judkins 3 Yd Run (Caden Davis Kick) Ole Miss 33–7 ; 9 plays, 47 yards, 3:16
Statistics VAN MISS First downs 13 22 Total yards 229 431 Rushing yards 169 177 Passing yards 60 254 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 8–20–2 20–29–1 Time of possession 32:59 27:01
Team Category Player Statistics Vanderbilt Passing Walter Taylor 4/12, 38 yards, 1 INT Rushing Walter Taylor 20 carries, 59 yards, 1 TD Receiving Junior Sherrill 2 receptions, 28 yards Ole Miss Passing Jaxson Dart 19/28, 240 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Quinshon Judkins 17 carries, 124 yards, 2 TD Receiving Dayton Wade 8 receptions, 120 yards, 1 TD
vs Auburn [ edit ] Game Ten – Auburn Tigers (4–4) at Vanderbilt Commodores (2–7) – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Auburn 14 3 14 0 31 Vanderbilt 0 7 8 0 15
at FirstBank Stadium • Nashville, Tennessee
Date : Saturday, November 4, 2023Game time : 4:00 PM EST Game weather : Sunny • Temperature : 72 °F (22 °C) • Wind : SW 5 mphGame attendance : 28,500Referee : Matt LoefflerTV announcers (SEC Network) : Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Aaron Murray (analyst), Taylor Davis (sideline reporter)
Game information First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter
Statistics AUB VAN First downs 14 12 Plays–yards 64–424 62–266 Rushes–yards 37–230 30–100 Passing yards 194 166 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–27–1 17–32–1 Time of possession 26:39 33:21
Team Category Player Statistics Auburn Passing Payton Thorne 17/27, 194 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Jarquez Hunter 19 carries, 183 yards, 2 TD Receiving Ja'Varrius Johnson 3 receptions, 62 yards Vanderbilt Passing Ken Seals 16/29, 160 yards, TD, INT Rushing Sedrick Alexander 9 carries, 40 yards Receiving Will Sheppard 4 receptions, 43 yards
at South Carolina [ edit ] Game Eleven – Vanderbilt Commodores (2–8) at South Carolina Gamecocks (4–6) – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Vanderbilt 0 0 0 6 6 South Carolina 6 7 14 20 47
at Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, South Carolina
Date : Saturday, November 11, 2023Game time : 11:00 a.m. EST Game weather : Rainy • 50 °F (10 °C) • Wind: NE 6.5 MPH Game attendance : 75,682TV announcers (SECN ) : Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (analyst), Taylor Davis (sideline)
Game information First quarter (6:37) SC – Alex Huntley 1-yard pass from Spencer Rattler (Two-Point Pass Conversion Failed) (Drive: 5 plays, 46 yards, 2:44; South Carolina 6–0 ) Second quarter (14:16) SC – Spencer Rattler 1-yard Run (Mitch Jeter Kick) (Drive: 10 plays, 95 yards, 4:35; South Carolina 13–0 ) Third quarter (7:09) SC – Ahmarean Brown 24-yard pass from Spencer Rattler (Mitch Jeter Kick) (Drive: 9 plays, 85 yards, 3:39; South Carolina 20–0 ) (5:12) SC – Mario Anderson 72-yard Run (Mitch Jeter Kick) (Drive: 2 plays, 82 yards, 0:44; South Carolina 27–0 ) Fourth quarter (14:55) VAN – Quincy Skinner Jr. 19-yard pass from Ken Seals (Jacob Borcila PAT failed) (Drive: 12 plays, 75 yards, 5:17; South Carolina 27–6 ) (11:20) SC – Keenan Nelson Jr. 18-yard Return of Blocked Punt (Mitch Jeter Kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 16 yards, 1:57; South Carolina 34–6 ) (5:53) SC – O'Mega Blake 26-yard pass from Spencer Rattler (Mitch Jeter PAT failed) (Drive: 5 plays, 39 yards, 2:45; South Carolina 40–6 ) (2:20) SC – LaNorris Sellers 36-yard Run (Mitch Jeter Kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 44 yards, 2:02; South Carolina 47–6 )
Statistics VAN SC First downs 17 21 Total yards 235 487 Rushing yards 131 136 Passing yards 104 351 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–28–0 28–36–1 Time of possession 32:47 27:13
Team Category Player Statistics Vanderbilt Passing Ken Seals 13–28, 103 yards, TD Rushing Walter Taylor 6 carries, 39 yards Receiving London Humphreys 3 receptions, 33 yards South Carolina Passing Spencer Rattler 28–36, 351 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Mario Anderson 9 carries, 102 yards, TD Receiving Xavier Legette 9 receptions, 120 yards
Game Twelve – Vanderbilt Commodores (2–9) at No. 21 Tennessee Volunteers (7–4) – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Vanderbilt 7 3 0 14 24 No. 21 Tennessee 14 17 14 3 48
at Neyland Stadium , Knoxville, TN
Date : Saturday, November 25, 2023Game time : 3:30 p.m. EST Game weather : Cloudy • 59 °F (15 °C)Game attendance : 101,915Referee : Ken WilliamsonTV announcers (SECN ) : Dave Neal (play-by-play), Derek Mason (color), and Taylor Davis (sidelines)
Game information First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter
Statistics VAN TENN First downs 22 31 Total yards 306 617 Rushing yards 78 168 Passing yards 228 449 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–32–0 31–47–0 Time of possession 34:21 25:39
Team Category Player Statistics Vanderbilt Passing AJ Swann 14/23, 167 yards, 1 TD Rushing Sedrick Alexander 11 carries, 46 yards Receiving Junior Sherrill 4 receptions, 52 yards, 1 TD Tennessee Passing Joe Milton III 22/33, 383 yards, 4 TD Rushing Jaylen Wright 11 carries, 75 yards Receiving Ramel Keyton 4 receptions, 122 yards, 2 TD
Coaching staff [ edit ] Name Position Consecutive season at Vanderbilt in current position Clark Lea Head coach 3rd Justin Lustig Associate head coach/special teams coordinator/tight ends coach 3rd Joey Lynch Offensive coordinator /quarterbacks 3rd Nick Howell Defensive coordinator 2nd Nick Lezynski Linebackers coach/Defensive Run Game Coordinator 2nd A.J. Blazek Offensive line coach 3rd Jovan Haye Defensive ends coach 3rd Larry Black Defensive tackles coach 2nd Alex Bailey Wide receivers 2nd Dan Jackson Defensive Backs coach 2nd Jayden Everett Running Backs Coach 1st
References [ edit ]
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championships in bold